By Iana Vitkova
Mentoring
Toastmasters Mentor Program Overview:
When you volunteer as a mentor, you are positioning yourself as a leader for our members who need your help. It will be up to the mentors to reach out, check in, and guide their assigned mentee through their Toastmaster journey. In addition, a mentor will challenge a mentee to break through their comfort zone and take on various roles usually starting out as a Timer and/or Grammarian.
As a mentee you can expect your mentor to contact you within a week. Before they contact you, please write down some of the questions that you may have, and consider what goals you would like to work on. Listed below is a list of the common areas that mentors typically focus on.
What is a Mentor?
A mentor takes a personal interest in helping a lessor experienced and/or new member, the mentee. They offer guidance, coaching, knowledge, and wisdom through scheduled sessions in order to help build the mentee’s confidence and help them advance as a Toastmaster more quickly.
How Often Does the Mentor/Mentee Speak?
It is recommended to speak, email, or get in contact with one each other at least once a week. Although people’s schedules can be busy it is recommend to meet up as well.
How Long Should Each Mentoring Session Last?
A mentor will spend at least 15 minutes each session helping the mentee with some of the recommendations listed below. During the first few weeks new members may require more time.
How Long Does the Relationship Last?
A mentor/mentee relationship typically lasts 2 or 3 months, after that they can choose to stay or switch to help another club member.
A Mentor Can Help with:
- Guide the mentee’s first three speeches, especially the Ice Breaker
- Help you become familiar with Pathways
- Explain the various club meeting roles and how to sign up
- Help the mentor learn our club standards and protocol
- Share their experiences and knowledge with the mentee
- Help with specific goals that the mentee may have
- Encourage the mentee to participate in meeting roles
- Provide positive feedback to the mentee
- Answer any questions that the mentee may have
- Motivate the mentee to attend all meetings
(Remember, take it slow and one step at a time)
Qualities of a Mentor:
Available, patient, respectful, knowledgeable, a good listener, and concern for others
Why Become a Mentor?
When people feel they have a friend in the club, especially one ready and willing to answer questions, they are more likely to be active and remain members.
- The mentor learns from the mentee as well
- Improved member retention
- More satisfied members
Please consider saving this as a Word doc or placing in an easy to retrieve location in order to use as a continual resource.